Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (105 page)

             
Mister
Bentley
the
Parson
joined
them
and
said,
"
Ah,
the
Cubozoa,
Chinorex
fleckeri
I
believe.
I
studied
some
in
Port
Jackson,
they
are
reputed
to
have
killed
a
number
of
convicts.
Washing
the
area
touched
by
the
tentacles
with
lye
is
reputed
to
help,
though
I
did
not
find
it
so
when
I
tested
the
sting
by
touching
one.
"
He
considered
and
then
said,
"
It
was
said
that
washing
the
sting
with
vinegar
helps
negate
the
poison.
Perhaps
the
purser
may
have
some
from
a
cask?
"

             
The
surgeon
grimaced.
"
Aye,
it
is
worth
an
attempt,
sir.
We
'
ve
little
else
will
have
any
effect
at
all.
"
He
frowned.
"
If
the
lye
does
not
work
and
the
purser
has
no
suitable
vinegar,
I
shall
try
rubbing
alcohol.
That
may
neutralise
the
poison.
"
He
and
the
Parson
descended
the
companionway
discussing
the
properties
of
the
stinging
mechanism
of
the
jellyfish
responsible.

             
The
jellyfish
discouraged
any
further
thoughts
of
enjoying
the
refreshment
to
be
had
from
swimming
and
the
ever
present
sharks
visible
from
the
chains
or
any
other
vantage
point
which
permitted
a
view
into
the
clear
water
beneath
the
ship
confirmed
it.

             
"
A
pity
these
waters
are
seemingly
infested
with
such
voracious
predators
and
such
unpleasant
things
as
the
jellyfish,
"
Harry
remarked
to
Kit
Tanner.
"
The
water
is
so
pleasant
and
refreshing
I
had
hoped
to
learn
to
swim
better
without
risking
a
severe
chill.
"

             
"
I
too,
"
Kit
leaned
outboard
and
stared
at
a
shadow
drifting
beneath
them,
"
But
not
if
I
'
m
to
share
the
water
with
a
beast
such
as
that
one.
"

             
Harry
followed
his
gaze
and
agreed,
"
You
are
right
–
that
is
a
brute
indeed.
"
He
gestured
to
a
hovering
canoe,
"
I
wonder
how
they
can
be
so
casual
in
their
canoe
knowing
that
such
a
monster
could
have
them
from
it
in
a
trice?
"

             
A
commotion
forward
drew
their
attention
and
they
watched
as
the
cook
'
s
slops
were
devoured
by
four
or
five
of
the
large
brutes.
Kit
Tanner
asked
rhetorically,
"
I
wonder
if
the
beasts
have
learned
that
our
ships
provide
all
they
want
in
food?
Perhaps
it
is
the
casting
overside
of
the
offal
from
our
slaughter
pen
that
draws
them
to
us.
"

             
"
You
may
have
the
right
of
it,
"
Harry
replied
as
the
frenzy
died
away.
"
I
should
not
like
to
fall
into
the
water
just
now
and
put
it
to
the
test
either.
"

***

             
Once
the
Captain
was
satisfied
that
the
charts
were
sufficient
to
take
them
on
the
next
stage
of
the
journey
the
ship
resumed
her
passage.
The
narrow
seas
opened
out
to
Larboard
as
they
cleared
the
last
of
the
reefs
and
islands.
Keeping
first
the
shore
of
New
Guinea
in
view,
they
passed
through
a
chain
of
islands
into
first
the
Banda
Sea
and
then
the
Java
Sea,
Captain
Te
Water
'
s
knowledge
proving
invaluable.
The
light
airs
they
encountered
made
for
a
slow
passage
but
now
they
began
to
encounter
local
trading
craft,
many
of
whom
flew
the
flag
of
the
Dutch
Republic.
Again
Captain
Te
Water
'
s
presence
meant
they
had
news
of
events
at
their
destination
and
in
the
region
in
advance
of
their
arrival
some
three
weeks
after
leaving
the
anchorage
in
the
Coral
Sea.

***

             
The
approach
to
Batavia
was
a
challenge,
but,
again,
Captain
Te
Water
'
s
knowledge
meant
they
were
able
to
stand
into
the
wide
bay
with
its
guardian
islands
surrounded
by
their
reefs
with
some
confidence.

             
Captain
Blackwood
studied
the
shore
with
interest
through
his
telescope
and
said
to
Lieutenant
Bell,
"
Plenty
of
local
shipping
here,
Thomas.
And
several
fat
Indiamen
too.
Rich
pickings
they
would
make
if
we
had
a
hostile
intent.
"